Alleged Mafia man cops plea

Published: Wednesday, January 13, 1999

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - One of 11 alleged Mexican Mafia members about to go on trial in a federal racketeering case pleaded guilty Tuesday.

Daniel Angel Tavitas pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Ed Prado to racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. Terms of the plea bargain were not disclosed. Sentencing will be at a later date.

The plea came on the eve of the trial's opening statements, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

Tavitas and the other defendants were accused of participating in a racketeering operation that included murder, attempted murder, assault, retaliation, theft and drug dealing.

Each defendant could face a possible life sentence if convicted.

Law officers say the Mexican Mafia, also known as the "Mexikanemi" or "La Eme," was born and controlled from inside Texas prisons.

Among the crimes blamed on the Mexican Mafia gang were the shotgun slayings of five people at a San Antonio home in August 1997 that allegedly resulted from a gang order to rob the house.

Tight security is in place at the federal courthouse for the trial, which is expected to last about six weeks.

A jury was selected late Monday. Prado rejected defense motions for the trial to be moved to another city and denied a request that each defendant be tried separately.